Ridge mulch tillage method and apparatus

Abstract

A method for preparing a field which has crop residue rows for subsequent row crop planting comprises cutting a plurality of furrows between crop residue rows and lifting and turning over the soil from the furrows into ridges, and simultaneously scraping over a plurality of crop residue rows and transferring the residue into the furrows which are being simultaneously cut, and wherein the former step forms the ridges on surfaces that are simultaneously being cleared by the latter step. The method is accomplished by tillage apparatus including a horizontal frame, a plurality of furrow cutting moldboards affixed to the frame and being curved to lift and turn over the soil cut from the furrows into ridges, and a plurality of trash boards affixed to the frame diagonally to the crop rows and in alternate relation to the moldboards and being curved to transfer the crop residue removed thereby into the furrows being simultaneously cut by the moldboards.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. Apparatus for preparing a field having rows of crop residue for subsequent row crop planting comprising: a diagonal horizontal plow frame;   a plurality of furrow cutting and ridge forming moldboards affixed to said plow frame and spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the spacing between said crop rows so as to cut furrows between crop rows and turn the soil lifted form the furrows onto surfaces not worked by said moldboards, thereby leaving unfilled the furrows created by the moldboards; and   a plurality of trash boards affixed to said plow frame in alternating relation to said moldboards and spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the spacing between said crop rows and adapted to transport the unplowed crop residue into said furrows cut by said moldboards.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said moldboards are curved so as to lift and turn over the soil cut from said furrows into residue-free ridges on the scraped surfaces cleared by said trash boards. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein said trash boards are disposed diagonally to the crop rows and adapted to scrape over the unplowed crop residue into the furrows cut by said moldboards and form scraped surfaces onto which said moldboards lift and turn over the soil from said furrows to form residue-free ridges. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said trash boards have lower scraper edges adapted to remove the crop residue. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 and including a plurality of soil slicing coulter discs affixed to said plow frame adjacent the leading edge of said trash boards and in alignment with the furrow cutting edges of said moldboards. 
     
     
       6. Tillage apparatus for preparing a field having rows of crop residue for subsequent row crop planting comprising: a horizontal plow frame disposed diagonally to said rows;   a plurality of furrow cutting and ridge forming moldboards affixed in spaced apart relation to said plow frame so as to cut furrows between crop rows and being curved to lift and turn over the soil from said furrows onto surfaces not worked by any of said moldboards, thereby leaving unfilled the furrows created by the moldboards; and   a plurality of elongated trash boards affixed to said plow frame diagonally to said rows and in alternate relation to said moldboards and being curved to scrape over the unplowed crop residue into said furrows being simultaneously cut by said moldboards;   said moldboards turning over the soil lifted from the furrows onto the scraped surfaces being simultaneously cleared by said trash boards.   
     
     
       7. Ridge mulch tillage apparatus adapted to be moved across a field having rows of crop residue in a direction of travel parallel to said rows to prepare the field for planting, comprising; a horizontal plow frame disposed diagonally to said direction of travel;   a plurality of trash boards affixed to said plow frame so as to be spaced apart, in a direction transverse to said direction of travel, a distance approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent crop rows and each being adapted to remove the unplowed crop residue in one of said rows; and   a plurality of furrow cutting and ridge forming moldboards affixed to said plow frame in alternate relation to said trash boards and being spaced apart, in a direction transverse to said direction of travel, a distance approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent crop rows so as to cut furrows between said crop residue rows and being curved so as to lift and turn over the soil from said furrows onto, and form residue-free ridges on, surfaces not worked by any of said moldboards but which were cleared by said trash boards;   said trash boards being disposed at a diagonal to said direction of travel and being adapted to transport the unplowed crop residue into said furrows cut by said moldboards.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, 2, 6 or 7 wherein said moldboards are narrower in a direction perpendicular to said crop rows than said spacing between crop rows. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein a trash board precedes each said moldboard. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said trash boards are of a width in a direction perpendicular to said crop rows approximately equal to said spacing between said crop rows. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein one edge of each said trash board is approximately in alignment with the edge of the succeeding moldboard. 
     
     
       12. Ridge mulch tillage apparatus adapted to be moved across a field having rows of crop residue in a direction parallel to said rows to prepare the field for planting comprising in combination: a horizontal plow frame disposed diagonally to said direction of travel,   a plurality of furrow cutting and ridge forming moldboards each having a width in the direction perpendicular to said rows narrower than the spacing between crop rows and being affixed to said plow frame and spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the spacing between said crop rows so as to cut furrows between crop rows and turn the soil lifted from the furrows onto surfaces not worked by any of said moldboards, thereby leaving unfilled the furrows created by the moldboards, and   a plurality of elongated trash boards having a width in a direction perpendicular to said crop rows approximately equal to said spacing between crop rows and being affixed to said plow frame diagonally to said rows and in alternate relation to said moldboards so that one edge thereof is approximately in alignment with the furrow cutting edge of the succeeding moldboard and being curved to scrape over the unplowed crop residue into said furrows cut by said moldboards,   said moldboards being curved to lift and turn over the soil from said furrows onto, and form residue-free ridges on said surfaces not worked said by said moldboards and which are scraped by said trash boards.   
     
     
       13. Ridge mulch tillage apparatus in accordance with claim 6, 7 or 12 and including a plurality of crop residue cutting and soil slicing coulter discs each of which is affixed to said plow frame adjacent the leading edge of one of said scraper blades and in alignment with the furrow forming edge of the succeeding moldboard.